OKANAGAN MOVED TO DROUGHT LEVEL 4

Unprecedented conditions have prompted the Government of B.C. to move the Okanagan to a Level 4 drought.

Water suppliers should do whatever possible to reduce water use in their communities.

Drought is currently impacting all of southern B.C., with

“extremely dry” (Level 4) conditions in the West

Kootenay, Lower Columbia, Okanagan, Thompson,

Nicola, Lower Fraser, South Coast and Vancouver Island

basins and “exceptionally dry” (Level 5) conditions in the

Kettle Basin.

Most Okanagan water utilities have already imposed

watering restrictions. These restrictions (drought stages)

are based on customer demand, infrastructure capacity,

reservoir levels, and weather forecasts. Drought stages

do not align with provincial drought levels in most cases,

but the drought levels are taken into account by water

suppliers in determining restrictions. Additionally, the

conditions between watersheds across the Okanagan

vary, which explains why neighbouring jurisdictions

might be in different drought stages with different

restrictions. That said, we are all part of “One valley. One

water,’ and we all need to be doing our part now.

Customers of local water utilities should comply with all

water conservation bylaws, watering restrictions, and

other advice from their supplier. Water licence holders

on streams and wells who are not customers of local

water utilities should take conservation measures

appropriate with the provincial drought levels. Refer to

the Government of B.C. drought bulletin dated August

13 for information on those measures.

The long-term forecast is calling for above normal

temperatures for the next three months. Precipitation is

harder to forecast, but the short-term shows a chance of

showers next week for much of the Okanagan. While

rain will bring some relief to low streams and dry

landscapes, we need a significant amount to make any

real difference and improve drought conditions.

OKANAGAN DROUGHT BULLETIN #2021-2 August 14, 2021

Provincial drought level map on August 11, 2021.

Source: BC Drought Information Portal

Okanagan

Photo courtesy District of Lake Country

Water is essential to fish and ecosystem health, food

production, and fire suppression in the Okanagan.

The Okanagan is home to many fish species that are

culturally important to the Syilx people, support a vibrant

fishery, and are critical for healthy freshwater systems. Low

water levels are occurring in several streams in the

Okanagan and are resulting in fish kills (die-offs) due to low

oxygen and high water temperatures. If conditions don’t

improve, fish will have a difficult or impossible time

returning to their spawning areas this fall. To reduce stress

on the fish, the Government of B.C. has closed recreational

fishing on most streams in the Okanagan. People are asked

to report any fish kills they observe, as well as unauthorized

water diversions, to the B.C. RAPP line, 1-877-952-7277.

Many crops in the Okanagan will still need water for the next

month or so. Hot and dry conditions make for thirsty plants!

But good water management by farmers is possible, and is

absolutely crucial in a year like this. Minimize water losses

by fixing leaks, assess and improve your irrigation system,

and adjust your irrigation schedule to use water as

efficiently as possible. See www.obwb.ca/ag for drought

management resources for agriculture.

Water is also needed for fire suppression and protection,

particularly during this year’s extreme fire season. There are

currently 269 active fires in the province. Of these, 87 are in

the Kamloops Fire Centre area, which includes the

Okanagan, and 16 are wildfires of note (highly visible or

pose a potential threat to public safety).

The next month is going to be difficult. Everyone must use

water efficiently and conserve what they can, ensuring

enough for food production, fish spawning, ecosystem

health, and fire suppression.

BALANCING WATER NEEDS IN A DROUGHT

As the drought deepens, and

water supply conditions worsen,

we are calling on local

governments, utilities, and the

public to join us in promoting

water conservation. Make Water

Work is a valley-wide campaign

aimed at helping residents

conserve outdoors – curbing the

2nd largest use of all water in our

valley. The campaign is delivered

by the OBWB’s Okanagan

WaterWise program in

partnership with Okanagan local governments and utilities.

A number of Okanagan mayors have posted videos of

themselves publically pledging to make water work better

and conserve this summer. These were posted to social

media as a way to raise awareness regarding what

individuals can do and challenge residents to go to

www.MakeWaterWork.ca, take the pledge, and join the

effort. We are inviting others, water utility staff, the public,

etc., to do the same, tag us on Facebook and Twitter

(@okwaterwise), and Instagram (@okanagan_waterwise)

and use the hashtag #MakeWaterWork so we see the post

and share it, pushing the message further. We will also be

reaching out to social media influencers in the days ahead,

asking them to join us.

We have now delivered a number

of communication tools to our

water utility, garden centre and

irrigation partners, to get the

message out and help residents

make WaterWise choices. Tools

include bookmarks, pledge buttons,

sandwich boards, and more.

We have also been promoting the

MakeWaterWork.ca website as the

place for the top outdoor water-

saving tips, water restrictions for

neighbourhoods around the

Okanagan, information on the

Make Water Work Plant Collection,

and more.

Interested in becoming a Make

Water Work partner? Contact Corinne Jackson at

corinne.jackson@obwb.ca or 250-469-6271 for more

information.

RESIDENTIAL WATER CONSERVATION

A recent photo of Vaseux Creek, courtesy of Okanagan Nation Alliance.

The Government of B.C. has declared the creek in Level 5 drought .